WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The 22nd-ranked Hawai'i Hilo baseball team both fended off and succumbed to late-game charges from HPU to split a Saturday doubleheader in non-conference action at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.
The Vulcans split a 34-total-hits game one down the middle to jump out to an 11-run lead as they stood strong down the stretch to come away with the 14-12 win.
The nightcap saw a similar pattern with Hawai'i Hilo jumping out to an early 5-0 lead, but the Sharks managed to claw their way back into contention before bringing across a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and eventual win.
GAME 1: NO. 22 HAWAI'I HILO 14, HPU 12
- There were 34 total hits, 25 runs batted in, four homers and 26 total runs between the two teams.
- After trading runs early, the Vulcans plated seven and four runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to jump out to a 12-1 lead. The seven-run top of the fourth was highlighted by a grand slam from Casey Yamauchi followed by a two-run shot from Blake Tweedt.
- HPU started the uphill climb with a six-run seventh inning capped by a two-run homer by Nicholas Jio.
- Mason Cook and Ryan Cho added insurance runs to the Vulcans' total with a sacrifice fly and RBI base knock, respectively, making the score 14-8.
- In the final frame, Richard Higa hit a three-run home run followed by a Tejean Smith RBI double to make it just a two-run score with one out and the tying run at the plate. But Christian Wood, who had entered earlier in the inning, induced a pop up and a ground out to short to close the game and grab the save.
- Christian DeJesus was one of five pitchers for Hawai'i Hilo as the senior went 5.0 innings with just two earned runs given up to earn his third win of the season.
GAME 2: NO. 22 HAWAI'I HILO 5, HPU 6 (7 INNINGS)
- Hawai'i Hilo started the nightcap strong with four consecutive hits capped by an RBI double from Alec Yamauchi and an RBI base hit by Blake Tweedt to make it a two-score advantage.
- In the top of the second, Cody Min and Ryan Cho took advantage of free base runners put on by driving in runs on an RBI single and a two-run double, respectively, as the Vulcans took a 5-0 lead.
- HPU capitalized with bases loaded on two outs in the fourth inning with tough infield hits to bring across three runs to make it just a one-run score.
- Hawai'i Hilo center fielder Bradyn Yoshida helped minimize the HPU damage in the bottom of the fifth after running back deep to the warning track to snag an over-the-shoulder fly ball for the first out of the inning.
- In the bottom of the sixth, pinch hitter Noah Hata dropped in a shallow RBI hit to tie the game before Kota Suzuki brought in the game-winning score on a hard hit back to the pitcher.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 16-7 overall (8-5 Pacific West Conference) as HPU moved to a 10-14 record (6-9 PacWest).
The Vulcans and Sharks will play a single game Sunday afternoon back at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park with a noon start time.
Hawai'i Hilo will then head to northern California to continue PacWest Conference play with games against Holy Names, Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific March 31 – April 11.
The Vulcans will return to Francis Wong Stadium to host HPU for their final home games April 21–23 before traveling back to O'ahu to close out the regular season with four more games against the Sharks April 28–30.
The four-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be held May 10–12 in Fresno, California.
TOP 25 RANKINGS
The Vulcans dropped nine spots to move to a No. 22 ranking in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division II poll released this past Wednesday.
Hawai'i Hilo also fell a spot back to No. 3 in the latest West Region rankings released last Monday.
No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino holds the top spot in the region with No. 19 Azusa Pacific taking the second slot ahead of the Vulcans.
